Empowering organizations to meet their capacity needs.
Leverage talented volunteers to drive your mission
Connect With Talented and Engaged Professionals
This program connects you with talented professionals looking to give back, allowing you to access expertise in areas such as marketing, web development, operations, strategy, and more.
Catchafire's menu of 150+ pre-scoped projects, each with specific deliverables and project steps, makes it easy to find what you need and match with a volunteer with the right skills for the job. And if you aren't sure where to begin, start by talking to a volunteer to get advice and explore ideas.
Kurt matched with Katie from NY Funders Alliance for a Human Resources consultation call!
Brandy from Harvest House Ministries listed a Website Usability Audit project.
Brandy from Harvest House Ministries listed a Website Audit project.
Harvest House Ministries received an application from Daniel for a Website Usability Audit project.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Payton for a Display Materials Design project.
HOPE585 received an application from Brian for a Copyediting project.
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. received an application from Ishaan for a Salesforce Training project.
HOPE585 received an application from Megan for a Copyediting project.
HOPE585 received an application from Jack for a Copyediting project.
Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Programs received an application from Dave for a Website Visual Design project.
HOPE585 received an application from Deisy for a Copyediting project.
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. received an application from Rich for a Salesforce Training project.
Blue Print Geneva received an application from Shazali for a Human Resources consultation call.
HOPE585 received an application from Juliet for a Copyediting project.
Ashley from HOPE585 listed a Copyediting project.
Olivia matched with Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Jacqueline from Blue Print Geneva listed a Human Resources consultation call.
The Foundry received an application from Charmian for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Nicholas matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Board Operations & Systems project!
Jane matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Board Responsibilities & Structure project!
Srishti matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for an Individual Donor Letter project!
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. received an application from Ahmad for a Salesforce Training project.
MJ matched with Christian from Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. for a Visual Brand Guide project!
Stephanie from Infinity Visual & Performing Arts listed a Print Materials Design project.
Marvin from Madison Co Rural Health Council listed a Public Speaking Coach project.
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. received an application from Preeti for a Salesforce Training project.
Mia matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Social Media Audit project!
Fostering Greatness Inc. received an application from Zoe for a Mission, Vision & Values project.
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. received an application from Leah for a Salesforce Training project.
GAURI matched with Kate from The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. for a Salesforce Database Customization project!
Lisa from Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Programs listed a Website Visual Design project.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Utsha for a Display Materials Design project.
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. received an application from Shiva for a Salesforce Training project.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Julia for a Display Materials Design project.
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. received an application from Animesh for a Salesforce Training project.
Kate from The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. listed a Salesforce Training project.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Amanda for a Display Materials Design project.
Hope Program Incorporation Organization (HPIO) received an application from Mia for a Visual Branding consultation call.
Brian matched with Christian from Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Kaitlyn from Chautauqua Striders listed a Display Materials Design project.
Audrey matched with Zach from Chautauqua Striders for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Marina matched with Brandy from Harvest House Ministries for a Translation project!
Fostering Greatness Inc. received an application from Oluwatobi for a Mission, Vision & Values project.
The Foundry received an application from Joel for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Leah Angel from Fostering Greatness Inc. listed a Mission, Vision & Values project.
Ryan matched with Donna from Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. for a Customer Database (CRM) Set Up project!
Dane matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Data & Analytics consultation call!
Leigh matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Data & Analytics consultation call!
The Foundry received an application from Carol for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Dana matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Data & Analytics consultation call!
How It Works
1. Explore Available Projects
Browse through over 150 pre-scoped projects and post your own.2. Find Your Pro Bono Professional
Review applications from interested professionals and choose who you want to work with.3. Get The Help You Need
Kick off your project and start making progress.Two ways to connect!
Consultation Calls
Projects
What Do You Need Help With?
Select from 150+ pre-scoped projects or post a consultation call to get started.
Great Connections Are Made Here
How Kurt G. helped NY Funders Alliance
How Olivia P. helped Herkimer County Public Health
How Nicholas V. helped Collaborative Center for Social Innovation
How MJ R. helped Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc.
How GAURI B. helped The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc.
How Marina O. helped Harvest House Ministries
How Ryan B. helped Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc.
How Tracie H. helped HOPE585
How Agustina P. helped Causewave Community Partners
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS
Work With Talented Professionals From Around the World
Finding the right match is important. Each of the 150+ pre-scoped projects contains prerequisite skills and experience, core deliverables, and time estimates, so volunteers know exactly what is required when they apply to work with you.
The rigorous application process, which includes work experience, portfolios, and statements of interest, limits applicants to those who are serious about working with you. It's not a one-click application, and it shouldn't be.
You can review up to three applications at a time, and interview candidates before deciding. The decision is yours.
What Other Organizations are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions
New around here? Start with the basics.
Catchafire is an online platform for virtual, skills-based volunteering. Through Catchafire, professionals are able to directly support causes they care about by helping nonprofits with projects that match their skill sets. And because projects can be completed from anywhere, Catchafire makes it possible for organizations and skilled volunteers to connect for good, from all around the world!
Skills-based volunteering is a high impact form of volunteering that allows an individual to donate his or her professional skills and expertise, which in turn allows a nonprofit to build its capacity and focus more efficiently on its mission.
Skilled volunteers help nonprofits fill critical knowledge and staffing gaps, they work as thought partners on strategic projects, and they complete specific projects that require specialized skills, training, or experience. Very often, the relationships between volunteers and nonprofits extend far beyond the scope of the initial project that brought them together.
A specific example of skills-based volunteering is a marketing professional who volunteers to help a nonprofit create a marketing strategy.
We are partnering with Catchafire to provide grantees with access to virtual, skilled volunteers. We believe that by providing this valuable resource for capacity building and strategic project work, we can help our grantees amplify and accelerate the impact they have on the communities and beneficiaries they serve.
No. Your access to Catchafire is sponsored through this program, so it’s completely free for your organization.
In order to participate, you must first register your organization and then post your first project or consultation call. Get started by visiting the Project Menu to browse through over 150+ detailed project types.
You can work on an unlimited number of projects and calls throughout your membership. Once you finish a project, just make sure to mark it “complete”.
Your posted projects are visible to Catchafire’s entire skills-based volunteer community of 40,000+ talented professionals on the platform, and millions more via Catchafire's partnership with LinkedIn. Those who are interested in your organization’s cause area and who have the skills required for your project will be able to apply.
Skills-based volunteers may apply to your projects from all across the country and around the world. We encourage you to engage with virtual skills-based volunteers. If you prefer to work with somebody local, please expect it to take longer than normal to receive applications from a professional in the area.
On average, projects are matched within two weeks. If you are not seeing the response you hoped for, please reach out to [email protected], and one of Catchafire's Nonprofit Advisors will get in touch with you.
After the interview, you can log into your account dashboard and ACCEPT or PASS on the match. Once both parties accept, you are officially matched and can begin the project! If you need to exchange any materials or have follow-up conversations to determine if it is a good fit after the interview, you are encouraged to do so.
Absolutely! Schedule a call, or email your questions to [email protected] and one of Catchafire’s Nonprofit Advisors will be in touch within 24 business hours.
About this Program
The Nonprofit Support Group (NSG) was founded on the principle that a group of funders can accomplish more together than any one funder can working alone. The power of this group lies in the scope and scale of work, covering the 8 counties of Western of New York and Monroe County. Serving as a connector, partner, resource and convener of nonprofits across the sector, we are dedicated to creating a thriving nonprofit ecosystem that promotes accessibility and equity for organization and the people they serve. Comprised of the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, the John R. Oishei Foundation, Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Western New York Foundation, ESL Charitable Foundation and 1.5 staff members, the work of the NSG is inspired and informed by the community.
NSG has spent much of the last few years listening and learning from nonprofit leaders in the region about the strengths and gaps in resources for the sector. The need for increased access to professional volunteers was raised. In an effort to meet that need, NSG, in partnership with the funders listed below, are excited to bring Catchafire to our region and beyond. Catchafire is an online tool that connects social good organizations with talented professionals looking to donate their skills. This resource provides organizations with expert support in areas like marketing and communications, web design, operations, strategy and more. Through the connection to skills-based volunteers, NSG and their partners maximize the impact organizations are able to make on the communities they serve.
Learn more here about Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, ESL Charitable Foundation, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, The Western New York Foundation, and Nonprofit Support Group.
Get Started Photo: Keir Johnston and Ernel Martinez's Welcome Wall, 2017, at 751 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY
Have more questions? Drop us a line.
Email the Catchafire team at [email protected], or schedule a Catchafire introduction call to learn more about how your organization can build capacity with help from skilled pro bono professionals